Sarge has been on point with his commentary on the goings-on this off-season. We are gearing up for our annual mock draft blog and look for that to launch in early August.

For now, let’s finish off the two-on-two tourney! The twist that was hinted at last week? The four players that have made it this far now get to partner with each remaining competitor. This has been a two-on-two contest, but the champion will only be one man. So who’s it going to be?

The premise: (Feel free to skip down if you have been here with us before!)

The rules are simple. 64 of today’s biggest stars, plus some fantasy forces and a few players of the “x-factor” ilk have been chosen to participate in this exercise. Assume each player is in perfect health and in peak condition, based on their current age and abilities, as well as their ability to work with a team mate. Players are teamed up randomly and each match-up is also determined randomly. Suppose these pairs of players play each other in a game of two-on-two: games to 11, two points for a three-pointer, and losers out (this is a change from last year’s one-on-one tourney where it was winners out). You can make your comment after each article. Please vote just once for each match-up. If you are so inclined, feel free to make up an imaginary commentary of how you see the battle going down and I will try to include your input in future articles. You have one week to vote, then the results will be published and a new pair of match-ups will be announced. So check back here every week! The players will randomly get a new team mate each round.

Last year’s one-on-one champ, Kobe Bryant, has not been included in the field of 64. Due to his one-on-one prowess, it seems too likely that a Kobe-Player X team would always win. So Kobe, hit the sidelines. I’m sure if Kobe knew about this, he might be a bit miffed at the lack of an invite, but surely he has bigger fish to fry than us!

Review of last week’s match-ups:

Semi-final #1: Antawn Jamison/Dwyane Wade vs. Elton Brand/LeBron James
Semi-final #2: Kevin Garnett/Manu Ginobili vs. Marcus Camby/Allen Iverson

As in other weeks, the second game seems easier to call. As Nuggets, Camby and the Answer were not even able to get their team into the playoffs this year. They make a formidable duo here, but their real life scenario proves there is a ceiling to their effectiveness. As the reigning defensive player of the year, certainly KG can lock Camby down. Ginobili will get burned by A.I.‘s speed a few times, but KG can cover his teammate a bit there. Over ten games, maybe the ex-Nugget teammates probably average about 3-4 wins, and maybe could take the series 6-4 on a good day. But this being losers out, they cannot play keep away. Flip Manu for the Answer and KG still wins. He is the difference maker here. Winner: Kevin Garnett and Manu Ginobili.

I really like the Jamison/Wade pairing, but I do not think they beat Brand and ‘Bron in the end. There’s not way he wants to be “LeBronze” in this tourney. Brand would pound Jamison down low, though Jamison would counter attack with his outside jumper. ‘Bron and his size wear Flash down over time. Winner: Elton Brand and LeBron James.

And now on to this week’s match-ups:

Round 5, Game 1: Elton Brand/Manu Ginobili vs. Kevin Garnett/LeBron James
Round 5, Game 2: Elton Brand/Kevin Garnett vs. Manu Ginobili/LeBron James
Round 5, Game 3: Elton Brand/LeBron James vs. Manu Ginobili/Kevin Garnett

The players were listed alphabetically to start. KG and ‘Bron were an awesome pairing a couple of rounds back, and it certainly has not lost its luster. They have to be the favorite there. In the next game, Brand and KG bring a ton of size and talent to the table. ‘Bron overcame that on the way to these finals, but can he do it again? And in perhaps the deciding game. KG and Manu team up again, but surely they will find the ‘Bron Brand tougher than Camby and Iverson in the previous round. How do you call it? Share your comments below!

See you next week to wrap things up!

Previous match-ups:
Round 1: Games 1 and 2
Round 1: Games 3 and 4
Round 1: Games 5 and 6
Round 1: Games 7 and 8
Round 1: Games 9 and 10
Round 1: Games 11 and 12
Round 1, Games 13 and 14
Round 1, Games 15 and 16
Round 2, Games 1 and 2
Round 2, Games 3 and 4
Round 2, Games 5 and 6
Round 2, Games 7 and 8
Round 3, Games 1 and 2
Round 3, Games 3 and 4
Semi-finals